Monday, March 7, 2011

Postmodern Thoughts on a Square (The Gavel)

I received this block as a ebauchon briar but as I started working it I discovered it was actually a small Plateaux Briar. A while back a friend asked me if I could make a pipe with a square bowl. Taking that as a challenge and trying to get as much of the splendid straight grains as possible the square shape began to form. This was not a quick pipe as I had to use a file for a lot of forming around the stem.

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St. John Kemble was a Jesuit priest in England for 54 years until he was arrested during the reign of Charles II. He was accused of plotting to remove the Charles from the throne inorder to promote a Catholic King. When they found no evidence of the plot he was condemned to be hanged, drawn, and quartered for being a priest and celebrating the Mass.

At the hour of his execution he convinced under-sheriff and the governor to let him finish his prayers, his drink and his pipe. Indeed, the governor and under-sheriff joined him with the drink and the pipe. He then went to the gallows with all the gravity of a gentleman.